Press release 068 from Wageningen UR – 11 November 2009
Dr. Robert van Gorcom (53) has been appointed director of the food safety institute RIKILT as of 1 January 2010. RIKILT operates as part of Wageningen UR (University & Research Centre), carrying out research into the safety and health of food and animal feed. The institute employs 200 staff. Van Gorcom will take over from Dr. Andre Bianchi, who has decided to concentrate on his work as Director of the Central Veterinary Institute (CVI) of Wageningen UR in Lelystad.
Van Gorcom trained as a molecular scientist in Wageningen and obtained a PhD at the University of Amsterdam. After a career in biotechnology with various divisions of TNO [the Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research], he returned to Wageningen UR in 2000. Since 2002, he has been manager of the Safety and Health business unit at RIKILT and deputy-director of the institute.
RIKILT carries out high-quality research into the detection, identification, functioning and effects of substances in animal feed, vegetable, animal and compound foodstuffs. The Institute advises the Dutch and foreign governments about standards violation, during incidents and in crisis situations, and coordinates laboratory back-up in the field of animal feed and food safety for the government during incidents and at times of crisis. RIKILT also supports Dutch and foreign governments with recommendations on laying down standards and guidelines, and on authorising new agricultural additives and foodstuffs of vegetable and animal origin.
Note for editors:
More information: Simon Vink, spokesman for the Executive Board, +31 (0)317-482466 or simon.vink@wur.nl.
RIKILT operates as part of Wageningen UR (University & Research Centre). Wageningen UR’s mission is: ‘To explore the potential of nature to improve the quality of life’. Within Wageningen UR, nine specialised and applied research institutes, Wageningen University and Van Hall Larenstein University of Applied Sciences join forces to search for solutions to important questions in the field of nutrition and environment. With around 40 branches (in the Netherlands, Brazil and China), 6,500 employees and 10,000 students, Wageningen UR is one of the world’s leading knowledge institutes in its field. A comprehensive approach to relevant issues and cooperation between disciplines from natural sciences, technology and social sciences are at the heart of the Wageningen Strategy.